Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
7-16,4-12MAC
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4-21,2-14MAC
How Sweep it is: Women's Hoops Routs CMU to Earn Season Sweep Over Chippewas
2/19/2022 3:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Skanes led the way with 19 points en route to career double-double number 22
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) --The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball team scored 32 points off of turnovers on the way to an 83-70 win against the Central Michigan Chippewas on the road Saturday, Feb. 19. The win is the third straight for the Eagles over their in-state rival, and gives the Green and White consecutive road wins over the Chips for the first time since the 2006-08 seasons.
The Eagles (7-16, 4-12) had four players score in double figures, led by redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)), who had a double-double, her 10th of the season, with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) tacked on 17 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals and senior Courtnie Lewis (Belton, Mo.-Belton) chipped in as well with 14 points.
Led by Skanes' six offensive rebounds, Eastern Michigan did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 15 boards that resulted in six second chance points.
Eastern Michigan forced 18 Central Michigan turnovers while committing 10 themselves in Saturday's game. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 32 points on the offensive end of the floor.
How It Happened
After falling behind 11-10, Eastern Michigan went on an 8-0 run with 2:22 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Austin, to take an 18-11 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Eastern Michigan did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 12 of its 18 points close to the basket.
Eastern Michigan kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 15-0 run starting at the 9:52 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Skanes, to increase its lead to 33-11. The Chippewas cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 44-27 advantage heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan dominated in the paint, scoring 18 of its 26 points close to the basket.
Eastern Michigan continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Combs, to expand its lead further to 52-34 with 5:28 to go in the third. The Eagles held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 65-47 edge. Eastern Michigan played well near the basket, scoring 16 of its 21 points in the paint.
Eastern Michigan kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Lewis' jumper, to grow the lead to 74-58 with 4:08 to go in the contest. The Chippewas narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Eagles still cruised the rest of the way for the 83-70 win. Eastern Michigan took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 10 of its 18 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan tallied 18 total assists in the game, its most against a Division I opponent this season.
» The Eagles turned 18 turnovers into 32 points on the offensive end.
» Eastern Michigan put together a 23-0 run that ran between the 2:28 mark in the first quarter and the 6:04 mark in the second quarter. That propelled EMU to a 22-point, 33-11 lead at that point, which tied for its largest margin of the half. The 23-0 run is a season-best for EMU. Its previous best was a 22-point sprint against Grace Christian, Nov. 18.
» EMU took a 17-point (44-27) lead into the halftime intermission, it's largest halftime lead since it went into the locker room up 15 points, 44-29, against Central Michigan in the first meeting between the two squads, Jan. 8. Additionally, the 17-point halftime lead is the second-largest for the team this season. EMU led Grace Christian by 52 points, 71-19, after 20 minutes of play, Nov. 18.
» Lewis was electric against the Chippewas. She dropped a team-best 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the first half, a point total she finished the game with. The five made field goals tieds her season best for makes in a single game, which she accomplished at Ohio, Feb. 14.
» EMU's 44 first-half points are tie the most the team has scored against a Division I opponent this season (44 vs. CMU, Jan. 8). Prior to today's contest, EMU had not hit the 40-point mark in a first half in 11 games (at Kent State, Jan. 15). The Eagles have scored 40+ in a first half four times this season and nine times overall in a 20-minute stretch this season.
» Skanes finished the contest with 19 points and a season-high 16 rebounds to record her 10th double-double of the season and 22nd overall with the Green and White. She has now recorded double-doubles in 22 of her 43 career games at EMU (51%), the best percentage of anyone on the team.
» EMU got 10+ points out of four players in the game at CMU. It marks the sixth time this season that Eastern has seen four-or-more players go for double digits, and the first time the team has hit the mark since Jan. 22, against Ball State. EMU is 5-1 in games of the sort. A season-best six players scored in double figures against GCU, Nov. 18.
» With the win over Central Michigan, Head Coach Fred Castro has earned a season-sweep over the Chippewas for the first time in his tenure (2016-Pres.).
» Freshman guard Lachelle Austin (Redford, Mich.-Wayne Memorial) set a new personal standard with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting against CMU. Both her total points and field goal makes are career-high marks for the freshman. She previously scored a personal-best 12 points against Binghamton, Dec. 10.
» With its victory, EMU has notched consecutive wins for the first time since defeating Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13 and Grace Christian, Nov. 18.
Historical Notes
» Today's win gives Eastern three-consecutive victories in the rivalry series for the first time since it won that number between March 8, 2014 and March 7, 2015. EMU bested the Chips twice at home during that stretch, and once on the road.
» EMU's victory over the Chippewas gives the Eagles consecutive wins at McGuirk Arena for the first time since the 2006-08 seasons. Eastern defeated CMU, 57-50, Feb. 28, 2007 before following it up with another win in Mount Pleasant, 68-66, Jan. 19, 2008.
Up Next
EMU hits the road to take on Northern Illinois Wednesday, Feb. 23. Tipoff from DeKalb is set for 7 p.m.
